Hinge



Aug. 14, 1934.

J. S. MATTHEW HINGE Filed Jan. 20, 1952 \\J I \NVENTOR JAMES s. TTHEW Federated Aug. 14, 1934 UNlTED STATES FFEQE HINGE Application January 20,

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a hinge, especially adapted for devices which are adapted to swing into collapsing or closed position and to be propped into open position Where the hinge halves 5 are arranged normal to each other. To secure the latter, a propping member is secured between the hinge halves when open, which prop assumes an oblique angle to both of said hinge halves.

The object of my invention is to provide a hinge of this character in which said propping member is pivotally secured at one end and slidably secured at the other end to longitudinal guiding devices provided with a locking mechanism at one end thereof, with which said slidable end of the prop is adapted to engage automatically when it reaches the end of said guiding means.

The details of construction and operation are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective View of my improved hinge; and

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section with the details of operation shown diagrammatically in dotted line.

My improved hinge comprises two halves a and b, secured together upon a hinge or pintle pin 0. The free end of the hinge half a has secured thereto, upon a hinge pin e, one end of the prop member :1. The ends of the prop mem- 0 her at and the hinge half a are relatively slotted and a coil spring f is mounted over such pin e and is formed so as to tend to force said members a and d apart. The other end of said prop member 03 carries a lateral pin g extending beyond the sides of the member d, thus forming two opposed trunnions or lugs, which are adapted to follow the longitudinal guiding devices hereinafter described.

The hinge half I: is formed at the end away from the pin 0 into a longitudinal groove h, defined by two inturned, spaced flanges i and 7', which extend over and are spaced from the body portion is. The end of said flanges and of such groove arranged closest to the pin 0 are formed into a bayonet joint-type locking device Z, which comprises two upstanding ears mm' in lateral registration with each other. The fiangesi and 7' are notched, as at n, to permit the ends of the pin g to pass out from under said flanges and into the bayonet-type slots 0, formed in the ears mm'. This movement from under the flanges i and 7' when the pin becomes in registration with the notches n is expedited and forced by the coil spring ,1, which causes the pin to ride against the 1932, Serial No. 587,692

under surface of the flanges i and j and into such bayonet-type slots 0.

In Fig. 2, I have shown my invention as used with a card table, having a top 10 and a leg q. As shown in full lines, the leg, when extended and arranged at right angles to the top, is held in such position by the prop d, being arranged so that the pin g on its slidable end is in engagement with the bayonet type securing device Z. As said pin moves into securing position, the leg is extended outwardly a slight distance beyond plumb when the table is in set-up position and is again moved inwardly, so as to permit the locking devices to function, sufiicient spring being inherent in the structure.

The pins are shown in connection with a card table only for the purpose of illustration and is not intended to be limited to such single use.

I claim:

A combination hinge and prop comprising two leaves pivotally secured together and a prop pivotally secured at the free end of one of said leaves and slidably engaging the other leaf, the last-mentioned leaf comprising an elongated fiat member, the free end provided with inturned so marginal flanges defining a groove between the inturned edges of said flanges and defining a pair of opposed guideways lying immediately exteriorly or" said groove, opening into the latter and underlying said flanges, a pair of upturned ears arranged at the end or" said groove, said ears extending normal to the body of said last-mentioned leaf, a laterally oiiset slot extending thru the plane of said marginal flanges and into said ears, a pin carried by the slidably secured end of said prop, engaging said guides, a spring engaging said prop, and adapted to move the pin into said pocket.

JAMES S. MATTHEW. 

